Amidst the ongoing negotiations for seat allocation among the leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition in Maharashtra, Election Coordinators appointed by the Shiv Sena (UBT) have revealed the party's intent to vie for a share in 18 out of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. This strategic move extends to securing representation in four of the six constituencies within Mumbai for the imminent general elections.
The appointment of these Election Coordinators by the Shiv Sena (UBT) serves as a firm statement of their insistence on contesting in 18 Lok Sabha seats across Maharashtra. Specifically, this includes earmarking four significant parliamentary constituencies within Mumbai, namely Mumbai South, Mumbai South Central, Mumbai North West, and Mumbai North East. The faction led by Uddhav Thackeray within the Shiv Sena is purportedly advocating for the retention of only two seats for their coalition partners to contest in the upcoming polls slated for April-May.
Following the latest developments, the dynamics of seat-sharing discussions within the MVA have been reshaped, particularly in the aftermath of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan's departure from the Congress to join the BJP, which occurred subsequent to the last seat-sharing meeting convened on February 2.
Notably, the absence of further deliberations among MVA leaders since Chavan's departure underscores the prevailing uncertainty surrounding the coalition's internal dynamics. However, it is imperative to mention that during the previous meeting, Prakash Ambedkar of the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) participated for the first time following his party's induction into the MVA. Ambedkar advocated for the formulation of a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) as a prerequisite for finalizing seat-sharing arrangements among the MVA allies.
The impending meeting scheduled for February 22 is anticipated to provide a platform for further discussions and negotiations on this crucial matter. It is worth recalling that in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the unified Shiv Sena, in alliance with the BJP, contested in 22 out of the 48 seats, securing victory in 18 constituencies, including three in Mumbai. However, in light of the recent departures of prominent Congress figures Ashok Chavan and Milind Deora, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is seemingly exploring the option of contesting in the seats previously won as a contingency plan.
